By Gwen Wong

I could not support a candidate more strongly than I support Eileen Jay, School Committee.  She is the full package: she’s intelligent, thoughtful and a great listener; she means what she says, and she is a deep and independent thinker with a wealth of experience. Eileen got her doctorate in education at Harvard, worked and wrote about improving classroom teaching and culture. In 2014, on the Ad Hoc Committee for Youth at Risk, she was a lead author of a detailed, comprehensive report on student stress for the School Committee. Eileen believes we can always accomplish more through professionalism and collegiality, and has consistently demonstrated that she works well with fellow committee members.

I have worked with Eileen in Lexington schools for about 10 years: first with FOLMADS and the music program at LHS, then with the Asian Student Mental Health Initiative with LYFS where she was a real leader.  Most recently, she was on the Search Committee which helped select the current superintendent. She has worked directly with the superintendent as well as with the current School Committee members on multiple projects.  For 20 years, as a parent and community volunteer on countless committees, she has worked tirelessly to improve the environment in Lexington Public Schools.

As a Chinese mom, I think her Chinese heritage will uniquely allow her to create a bridge of understanding between the school system and the increasingly multicultural student body and their families. She has been and always will be a strong advocate for ALL kids, and she’s one of those rare people who will listen while working diligently to improve and support the LPS.

Please visit Eileen’s website: https://www.jayforschoolcommittee.com and support her election to the School Committee.

Gwen Wong, Cedarwood Terrace